Rum Punch Regrets (9 page)

Abby started to make a snide comment when Tracey interjected, “Please, Abby. I’ll tell you this and then you can make a decision on Ben from there. In fact, if he still irks you after I explain where he’s coming from, cool. No more Ben talk. Deal?”

Abby pursed her lips together and slowly nodded. Ben was becoming the bane of her existence.

“When I say Ben hasn’t had it easy, I don’t mean because his car broke down or his checkbook won’t balance. Ben is one of those guys who shouldn’t be here, but is. In fact, Abby, he’s a genius. Or rather an idiot savant,” she giggled. “He came here on a partial scholarship from his last school, Virginia Tech. I met his mom, Carla, on orientation day. His dad passed away when he was a little boy. Anyway, he’s here, and it’s his last semester, right? Ben decided he needed to ‘let some steam off’ during finals, so he went for a run one night by the cane fields near your place. He got jumped by locals and stabbed. He showed up on my doorstep at 2 a.m. My roommate and I threw him in the car and got him to the hospital.”

Abby, slack-jawed, stared at Tracey in disbelief. She felt a foreign feeling in her gut for Ben . . . sympathy.

“He recovered and was out in enough time to take his finals. Which he did, and he passed with flying colors. Then he went home for Christmas break and found out they had failed him anyway. One of the teachers couldn’t believe he had managed to take off time to recover and still pass everything. So he was held back a semester.”

Abby was flabbergasted. “Are you kidding me? They can’t do that, can they?”

Tracey nodded her head. “They can and they did. And he had already failed out a semester in his first year, a lot of kids do. You’re on an island, away from home the first time, you know.” She shrugged her tan shoulders. “This is his last semester, and if he fails this, it’s his three strikes. He’s out.”

Abby was digesting this information as Tracey continued.

“On top of it, his scholarship? It only covers the semesters he was estimated to be here. Seven semesters. Not the extra two. He and his mom aren’t really rolling in the dough. The pressure he is under to pass and then figure out loans on top of everything else? Tremendous pressure. Me? I’d have thrown myself into the sea with some concrete blocks around my ankles,” she said with a smirk. “Seriously, it’s a lot for a twenty-seven-year-old, who now has a mystery roommate.” Tracey grabbed Abby’s arm tightly. “I don’t think any of this is about you. Not one bit. You have to know that.”

Abby couldn’t process all the information
. Poor Ben,
she thought.
That’s a lot for one person to go through. Hell, it’s a lot to go through if you are in the States with your family and friends around you, but to be on a remote island without close family? How has he made it this far by himself?

The water was lapping at the shore in its usual hypnotic way. Abby was zoned out watching the waves slap onto the beach and drag back sand, pulling it as if gifting it back to the Caribbean, thinking about her new roommate’s plight.

Abby was sure Leigh had no idea that all of this was happening. Abby knew she needed to try to get in touch with Leigh again to get her to understand why Abby wanted out of the pool house. Not because of her own space this time, but because she wanted Ben to have his.

“Wow. I feel so selfish and immature right now. I made this whole thing about me, not even thinking of the fact that Ben was going through his own drama.” She shook her head, annoyed with herself. “I owe him a huge apology.”

Tracey’s reaction surprised Abby. “No! Do not let him know I told you. He didn’t want you to know. I think his ego is bruised from everything, and he doesn’t want someone he just met to see him as a failure.”

“Failure? Hardly. That’s a traumatic experience to come out of, and he’s still going? And pushing forward with some laser-beam focus, I might add. Granted, some of that focus is to make me crazy.”

“Please, Abby, don’t let him know that I told you. If he wants to tell you, let him.” She was starting to gather her things and put them in her backpack so they could leave. “Hell, I failed last semester, too. Not because I was stabbed but because I failed an important test. A few of us did, actually. They call us ‘Team Repeat.’”

“Team Repeat?”

“Yep. We’re all busting our butts to get through this semester and get the hell home. It’s not easy down here. Well, to live here. I miss my family and my farm. I want to go to a 7-Eleven or anything but the stores here. I want winter again.”

Abby was beginning to gather her things as well when Tracey stopped her.

“You know what’s funny? You and Ben are a lot alike.” She was laughing as she said it.

“What do you mean?” The last thing Abby wanted was to be compared to her arch-nemesis.

“I can’t put my finger on it, Abby, but you’re not as different as you may think. Even the way you order your food. I’ve never met two people that love to smother everything they eat in ketchup.” Tracey was thoughtful as she added, “Not to mention, you’re two of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met in my life!”

Abby smacked at Tracey playfully. “Whatever.”

“Hey, do you want me to take you to the airport tomorrow so you can get your license?” Abby wasn’t sure, but it felt like Tracey was changing the subject.

“I guess so. Will they make me take a test or anything?” Abby had feared getting behind the wheel on the island. Everyone drove like maniacs, passing each other without abandon and driving at all speeds. She was sure there had to be a set speed limit but that no one had shared such info with anyone else.

“Oh, God no! You give them some money, and you have a license. Well, show them the one you have from the U.S. That way, they know you’re at least kind of competent.” She grinned.

“Let’s do it. Maria keeps offering for me to use her little car if I want to get around. I may as well make the most of it while I’m here.” Abby was throwing the last of her things into her little pink Puma bag when she stopped. “Tracey, thank you. For everything. The tours, the background on Ben, pushing me to do things like get a license or come out and chill or get away from the other side of the island while you study. I mean it. Thank you.”

Tracey shrugged her shoulders as if to get the compliments and praise off her. “You’re funny. It’s nothing. It’s nice to have someone like an adult here to hang out with, too.”

Abby cracked up. “‘Like an adult.’ I think that’s the best compliment I have ever gotten!”

The two grabbed their things and made for Tracey’s car, making plans for the next day while the monkeys threw leaves at them from their perches above the parking lot.

#

La Cantina was lit up when Tracey dropped Abby off. More guests were checking in with Maria, asking her questions about the landscape and history of the home. Abby waved at the group and started to make her way to them when she noticed Ziggy was on the roof in the same spot where Buddy had been earlier in the day.
Uh-oh,
she thought.
That can’t be good.

Abby rerouted her course and made her way around to the side of the house where Ziggy had parked his ladder. Quickly and easily she took each rung, climbing to the top. As she hit the peak of the house, she looked down and realized how high she was. Closing her eyes and willing herself to carry on, she called out to Ziggy.

“Hey, you find something interesting up here?”

Ziggy was shaking his head. “No, mon. I was in da bathroom, looking at de light fixture you said you needed replaced when I saw de spot.”

“Spot?”

“Yeah, da water spot. Must have been from de last storm. So I poked it a little . . . ”

Abby had a sick feeling in her stomach. She was eyeing Ziggy when she realized his hair and shirt were covered in a fine white powder. Gathering all of her courage, she went from ladder to roof and carefully crawled over to sit next to Ziggy. When she got to him, she was finally privy to the same scene he was looking down upon.

From what Abby could gather, Ziggy had decided to poke the water spot with a broom handle. He was next to her, insisting, “I didn’t push it hard at all, mon. I wouldn’t do no ting like dat!” Yet it appeared as if a small storm had landed in the middle of what used to be the bathroom. The hole he created was easily five feet across each way, and tile and plaster were scattered and tossed all about what was once a clean and pristine bathroom.

“Oh. My. God.”

As the duo was peering down into the bathroom, a familiar face was suddenly looking back up at them. “Um . . . hi? Can you tell me what happened to our bathroom?”

“Mrs. Bellfield!” Abby was trying not to stutter. “And how is your honeymoon so far?”

#

Abby sat at the island in the kitchen with her head in her hands. She and Ziggy had quickly covered the hole in the roof with a tarp, managing to secure it in some crazy way between tying it to a tree, to some bricks and around the chimney. While Maria had kept some visiting prospective buyers busy showing them the opposite end of the property, Abby and Ziggy had made quick work of moving the Bellfields from the master suite to the princess suite.

Abby was in the process of discounting the room when Maria came flying in with Ziggy hot on her heels.

“Are you kidding me? You decide today of all days to poke at that water spot? Ziggy! What were you thinking?”

Abby flinched for poor Ziggy. Maria was almost like Leigh, being that she was someone she never wanted to find herself facing off against.

“I didn’t tink it would blow up on me!”

Maria just shook her head. “Abby. . . ”

Abby held up her hand. “I already put a call in to Anita. She’s sending Buddy over first thing in the morning to see if he can patch the ceiling, although I have a feeling his version of ‘first thing’ is around noon. I managed to lock the doors leading into the master suite, so hopefully we can hide this mini-disaster from anyone looking at the property for just a bit until we have the room under control.” Abby nodded at Ziggy. “Ziggy and I moved the Bellfields a few rooms down, and I’m going to suggest we give them half off their total bill since their dream honeymoon suite just got a surprise sunroof.”

Maria nodded her head. “It kills me, but you’re right.” Maria cut her eyes at her husband. “You. I’ll deal with you later. Help me get the laundry finished.”

Knowing there wasn’t anything else she could do until tomorrow, Abby made a beeline for the pool house. What she really wanted right now was a cold drink and to put her feet up.

Ben was home and actually sitting in the living room getting his rugby gear together when she entered. Instead of greeting him or making any acknowledgment of his presence, Abby came in and went into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. When she pulled her head out of the fridge, Ben had joined her. In fact, he was blocking the doorway so she wasn’t able to really get out of the kitchen.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“I’m going to play rugby in a few minutes, and I wanted to know if --” Ben was swallowing hard here -- “well, if you wanted to come out and maybe meet some more people. See a rugby match.”

Abby was surprised, and was sure it showed in her expression. She took a sip from her bottle and slowly nodded her head.

“That would be really nice, Ben. Thank you for inviting me.”

“Well, I know you and Trace have been hanging out. She really likes you.” He looked away, searching for some words. “I’m not an easy person to be around, Abby, especially the last few months. And that’s not your fault.”

Wow,
Abby thought,
communication from Ben. This is a monumental moment.

As if reading her mind, Ben cleared his throat and said, “This doesn’t mean I’m okay with things now. It just means . . . well, it means I’m going to try.”

“Fair enough.” Abby put out her hand for Ben to shake. “I promise not to be pushy nor will I try to clean.”

Ben took her hand. “Actually, Abby, I’d be crazy to not let you clean this place.” He looked around sheepishly. “You’re right.”

Abby was such a sicko when it came to being orderly that her face lit up at the prospect of getting to really attack, clean and organize the pool house.

“I feel like it’s my birthday,” she replied dreamily while batting her lashes jokingly in his direction.

Ben laughed and pointed to the clock on the stove. “I’m out of here in the next ten minutes. Meet me by the car, and we’ll head over to the field. Oh, I forgot.” He pointed to a cell phone on the counter in the kitchen. “Maria dropped that here for you earlier. The number’s written down on the paper beside it. She said it’s filled with fifty EC for you to start.”

Abby’s face twisted, not understanding what he meant.

“That means a decent amount of pay-as-you-go time. But don’t make calls if you can help it. Best to text here. If you want to make any local calls, use the phone in the main house. I programmed my number and a few others for you.”

With that, Ben slipped out the door to stretch and run drills by the pool before they took off.

Abby couldn’t believe the change of events. What had happened to make Ben be nicer to her? Maybe Tracey had said something to him? Maybe Maria and Ziggy or Cutty? Who cared, as long as there was some kind of conversation happening.

She picked up the phone. It was ancient, reminiscent of when cell phones were getting popular a few years back in the States. Not quite the technology she was used to, but it would do for the purpose it was meant to serve. She scrolled through the names and saw Ben had added not only his and Tracey’s numbers, but the numbers of Leigh, Maria, Ziggy and Cutty, too. She took the piece of paper with her new number scribbled on it and put it in her pocket. She would memorize it as soon as she could.

Abby felt a swat on her leg. Looking down, she saw that one of the two felines was giving her an unusual amount of love.

“Want something, sticky paws?” Abby narrowed her eyes and glared at the small, manipulative creature. She looked at the food dishes on the floor and realized they were empty. “Fine. Make-a-deal time, guys: I feed you, and you leave me alone. Got it?”